User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
I love this book desperately. I did write it, so the possibility of bias is real. :) I can't wait to share it with the world. The year-plus I spent researching, writing, and revising it was intense, and harrowing at times, but I'm thrilled with where we landed. Here's hoping you enjoy it, too.
Hazel, a pianist, and James, a builder-turned-soldier, meet at a London dance in late 1917, on the eve of his departure for the trenches of World War I. Aubrey, a Harlem ragtime musician, and Colette, a Belgian refugee who has lost everything to the war, meet in a YMCA relief hut at the American training base at Saint-Nazaire, France.
Aphrodite and Ares meet for a secret tryst in a Manhattan hotel room, only to be caught and exposed by Hephaestus, the goddess of love's jealous husband. Aphrodite, as the defendant in a mock courtroom trial, spins the intertwined stories of both pairs of star-crossed lovers in a plea to soften her husband's anger. With additional testimony from Ares (war), and ultimately, Apollo (art) and Hades (death), the gods' stories explore how far hope can reach into the abyss of wartime destruction and despair, and whether, in a broken world, there's still a case to be made for love.
Rating: really liked it
I cried at least 7 separate times while reading this book. The four central characters are all endearing and lovely, and I was deeply touched by the humanity and hope that leaked during a tragic period of history, and the relationship between love and war. Huge props to Berry for incorporating the perspectives of black soldiers with such care and poignancy while giving Aubrey so much personality. While the romance does develop quickly, I still found the book to be charming and heart-wrenching given the circumstances that these couples have gone through. If you're not into romance, you might not like it, but if you're a romantic sucker at heart, you'll probably cry with me too lol.
Rating: really liked it
[screaming from an oversized megaphone] NOT TO DICTATE ANYONE'S LIFE BUT THIS BOOK BRAIDS TOGETHER TWO LOVE STORIES SET IN WWI AND IT'S NARRATED BY GREEK GODS AND YOU GUYS NEED TO ADD IT TO YOUR TBR
Rating: really liked it
The only tears I cried were a product of boredom
Rating: really liked it
im surprised i broke my WWI/WWII historical fiction hiatus, but i kept seeing so many positive reviews for this, so i made an exception.
and i understand the hype. its quite something to write such a lovely story about war - you wouldnt think its possible. and this is, lovely. but at the heart of it, it just feels like every other WW story.
the only novelty of this is that its told from perspective of greek gods and i love that. i found this part of the story the most interesting, so im bummed that there wasnt more than just the set up, the conclusion, and only a couple of interjections - it just wasnt enough for me.
but regardless, this is your classic war story about hope, resilience, and love.
↠ 3.5 stars
Rating: really liked it
I'm in loveThis book is narrated by greek gods, but are we sure it isn't written by one too? Lovely War feels as if it is on a plane higher than us mere mortals. Julie Berry, I'm not sure what magic you cast over me but please never stop.
It usually takes me around 50 pages or so to get acquainted with a story, the characters and setting. With Lovely War, I was entranced from page one. By page ten I was laughing. By page fifteen I was swooning. By page twenty, I felt as if I knew these characters, their souls.
I cannot properly articulate the beauty, the despair, the magic of this book. Nothing I could ever write about it would do it justice.
“Let them start their dreadful wars, let destruction rain down, and let plague sweep through, but I will still be here, doing my work, holding humankind together with love like this.” What initially transfixed me was the writing. Julie Berry's prose speaks to me on a spiritual level. I adored the god's narration. It made this seemingly common and overdone story suddenly feel new and, well,
lovely. What kept me reading were the characters. They felt real, raw and perfectly flawed. They were endearing and charming and every other synonym.
This book deserves five stars through and through simply for the emotions it evoked in me. In a mere sentence it had me tearing up, in another it had me closing the book and simply whispering 'no no no no no.'
“I envy your mortals."
“As Ares says, they die, you know.”
“They do. But the lucky ones live first."Lovely War was such a personal experience for me that is impossible for me to think about it in a purely objective sense. It without a doubt has earned its place on my list of All Time Favourites.
read this. experience the beauty. taste the sadness. feel the love.
you won't regret it.
Rating: really liked it
That shit hurted.
Rating: really liked it
Classic WW story, but with a magical spin.
What’s cool, unique, fascinating (and totally unexpected as I went into this knowing absolutely nothing) about it is the fact that it is narrated by Greek gods. Yes, you aren’t trippin’. We have Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaestus with special guests from Apollo and Hades. All of them telling stories about love and war that tug at your heartstrings and evoke so many emotions out of you.
Particularly one that is tied to four different characters and two sets of romance. James & Hazel + Aubrey & Colette, we watch how their lives intertwine in this book. It’s nothing short of
deep, sweet and swoony, heartfelt, and touching. Also, reading a WW book in general has always been a somewhat humbling experience for me.
I loved that this book incorporated things or issues or trends or whatever you wanna call them that were
hyped at the time. There’s tidbits about fighting on the frontline; about the fallout of war on soldiers, nations, and families; about the rise of (jazz) music; also about prejudices against black people; and other related subjects.
I have to admit, the chapters on war were a bit boring for me. My favorite part has to be the ones brought on by Aphrodite. She’s basically playing cupid in this book. Her delivery was so on point, endearing, and hopeful that I was pulled under her spell. I loved her humor too. Honestly, I would’ve loved to see the gods as more than the story tellers and have their part in the book to be explored more.
Overall, this book is simply beautiful.
(Read as an Audiobook)
Rating: really liked it
This book would have maybe gotten four stars because of the discussion of topics such as James Reese Europe and the introduction of jazz in Europe during WWI, the treatment of black troops during the war, and the horrors of the trenches. And yet, the framing technique of a story told by Ares, Aphrodite and Hephaestus did absolutely not work for me. The writing was ok, if sappy when the narrative concentrated on Hazel, James, Colette and Aubrey but it was stilted and awkward when the gods were speaking amongst themselves. The two intertwined love stories were ok, but very soap-opera inspired with long pauses and dramatic kisses. If that is your kind of thing, then you'll enjoy this. I just found that the story would have been fine without the gods and without the sappiness. I would probably have dropped it down to two stars had there not been the good historical reminders I mentioned above and the Historical Notes and Bibliography not have been included at the end.
The plot is framed by what I consider to be a silly scenario in 40s Manhattan where Haphaestus catches Ares and Aphrodite in delecto and in strange rip off of 1001 Nights, Aphrodite recounts a love story set in WWI. Like I said, that whole thing did nothing for me. The adventures of the two couples, Hazel and James (both English) and Colette and Aubrey (Belgian and American respectively) were interesting, if somewhat overdrawn at points. Had the book just focused on the two love stories, I might have enjoyed it more.
I nearly forgot to mention that there has been a renewed interest in the music of James Reese Europe, most notably by the American jazz pianist Jason Moran who includes a few songs, including Reveille Blues alluded to in the book, in his live sets and plans an entire album dedicated to the composer/band leader in 2020.
I’ll give a more in-depth plot readout later. Just miffed that the top review for this book is one sentence in ALL CAPS and has >520 Likes. I don’t understand how that works.
Rating: really liked it
Whoever said “distance makes the heart grow fonder”, obviously read this book. The narration of the Greek gods gave the story a timeless feeling and I think we all need to read a story like that every once in a while (yes, it’s narrated by Aphrodite, Ares, Hades, Apollo… yes.) ”Let them start their dreadful wars, let destruction rain down, and let plague sweep through, but I will still be here, doing my work, holding humankind together with love like this.”
I loved the way it played on the classic tale of Hephaestus catching Ares and Aphrodite in his net. The whole book circled around that and it was the perfect jumping off point for the plot to work around while maintaining the timeless feel.
The way it emphasized all the “small moments” in the midst of the war added that feeling of hope in love. The unexpected friendships, the chance encounters, and stolen moments in the middle of the night... I WAS SOLD!
Definitely one of the most unique storytelling that I’ve read. It weaved the romance while never forgetting the setting it is thriving in. Even though this is a historical romance set in WW2, an objectively dark time, it didn’t feel that heavy to read. There are
definitely still times it tackles more sensitive topics since the main sources of conflict stems from the result of the war, it came with a silver-lining. Plus, you can feel while reading how well-researched the book was and we love to see that.
“You’re a brand-new piece of sheet music for a song which, once played, I’d swear I’d always known.”
I didn’t realize this had a lot of musical aspects and quotes about music T_T those bits really pulled me in. But what took me out of the story was that problem with multi POV books when you’re not equally invested in everyone’s perspectives and you find yourself consantly waiting for the next time the characters you are waiting for to appear.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved both couples but there were just some scenes that I didn’t care much for and I think would have been better implied… so that we had more time to explore the romance on the gods’ side HAHA
Even though it’s really a romance novel it includes the impacts of war on both a personal and wider social level, without forgetting the perspectives of black soldiers during the war.
↣ With that, if you’re a hopeless romantic looking to fall in love over waltzes, piano music, and snowwy nights… I introduce to you, Lovely War. When I say I like old school romance, this exactly what I mean. It’s romantic, heartfelt, emotional, and an easy novel to get lost it. ↢
"No one can love me [...] That is the price of being the goddess of love."
— 4.25 —⇢
content warnings// Amputation (mentioned), Blood, Bones, Death, Guns, Pregnancy, PTSD, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, War ⤜
post-read initial review ⤛
HAPPY NEW YEAR. I FINISHED IT ON TIME. thank you to everyone that believed in me <3
And I just need to say that: what better way to start 2022 with that old chivalric kind of hope in love.
Review incoming by 2022 <3
⤜
pre-read review ⤛
I told myself if I saw someone recommend this to me for the 4th time I'll add it to my TBR. You can guess why it's here now
Rating: really liked it
What makes this book different from others in this genre is that Greek gods are basically narrating the events and discussing them.
Lovely War follows the story of two couples during WWI. It's also very heavy on romance and less on the actual war (although we see it, of course, but mostly relating to the story of the couples and less like usual WWII books).
So let's get it out of the way. I expected this book to have romance but not
that much... I really can no longer stand so much romance with love at first sight kind of books and that are not historical romance (and you know which ones we call them as such -even though this one is historical and romance but more like YA).
If you love romance and young adult and historical stories, then this book is for you. You definitely should give it a try. If you don't, then I don't recommend it at all.
I found the concept of Greek gods narrating the story cool but not enough to save the book especially since I thought they intervened too much, don't other people deserve the same special relationship? Also, there was no balance between the time each story got, we had two couples but only one got most of the spotlight. Why include two if we don't want to give them equal attention? The other couple was too important to be considered secondary set but also not important enough to be main characters.
As for the audiobook, it gets the green light from me! The voices of the gods were different and we had some music from time to time playing in a not annoying way in the background (for a short time).
The best part of the book was the audio, I recommend it if you want to read this book and it definitely helped me push through the book. By the end, I no longer cared about their story and God knows I should've dnf'ed it earlier (but I had no other audiobooks at the time so was stuck with it). While I knew this book isn't my usual cup of tea, I didn't expect to feel tired from all that romance listening to the audiobook. And while I cared about the characters at first, I couldn't gather enough energy in the second half to wonder what happens next.
Conclusion: only read this book if you love YA historicals with loooots of romance. Stay away from it otherwise.
Rating: really liked it
This book took me on a journey. Oof.
If you're looking for a historical fiction with outstandingly beautiful prose that you'll want to highlight and bookmark endlessly and some fantastical elements in the forms of gods and goddesses watching over mortals at war, then you have to read Lovely War, following four different characters, from different walks of life as their worlds converge during WWI.
I absolutely loved how this book was written from the perspective of Aphrodite, Hades, Ares, and Apollo. Each of their voices was so distinct, and seeing their direct involvement in these mortals' lives was so fascinating to read. I'm a sucker for any retelling that includes the Greek gods, so this was the book of my dreams in it being a historical fiction mixed together with Greek mythology.
While I do have to say the book dragged on a little for me and the descriptions of the battles themselves were dry, this book and the characters within it stole my heart, left me wondering what was going to happen next, and made me fall head over heels for Julie Berry's gorgeous prose. I highly implore any historical fiction lover to pick up this book because the prose itself is something that needs to be admired.
AT A GLANCE
- Gods and goddesses tell each other about an epic love story set during WWI
- War, heartbreak, romance, everything you need to have a gorgeously written story
- The prettiest prose in any historical fiction I've ever read
CONTENT WARNINGS: Blackface (condemned in the story), racism, lynching, PTSD, war
Rating: really liked it
It's so strange but I feel like many books I read come in twos, echoeing ideas randomly but close between different reads. This one and
: the idea that the goddess of love, the epithome of it, Aprodite/Venus goes without it and is actually not just lovely but lonely, destined to bring it to everyone but herself. In The House of Styx it's the planet Venus: lonely and bound under all the chemical deluge going on. Here: it's the Aphrodite herself, walking across societies and times and lovers and never meeting her equal.
With some interesting possible exception of dear old hubby.Q:
Modesty was never her forte, but then, a humble god is hard to find. (c)
Q:
“I’m the source of love,” she says, “but no one will ever truly love me. The fountain of passion, but I will never know a true passion of my own.”
Ares throws up his hands. “You’re nuts! Have you read Homer? Hesiod?” (c) Lovely :) Ares trying to persuade Aphrodite to turn to the mere mortals concerning her own loveability. Duh. The expert opinions.
Q:
Aphrodite has no one to love her? He, the god of fire and forges, has no shortage of ore and fuel. Ares, the god of war, has been enjoying a blood-soaked century like no other in history. Artemis has no shortage of stags to hunt. Poseidon’s not low on salt water.
And his wife, the gorgeous goddess of romance, is lonely? (c)
Q:
“Do you know what it’s like,” she says, “to spend eternity embedded in every single love story—the fleeting and the true, the trivial and the everlasting? I am elbow deep in love, working in passion the way artists work in watercolors. I feel it all.” She wraps her arms tightly across her chest, as though the room is cold. “I envy the mortals. It’s because they’re weak and damaged that they can love.” (c)
Q:
Ares rolls his eyes. “Gods, no,” he moans. “Bring out the hot pincers, the smoking brands! Anything but a love story!”
Aphrodite glares at him.
“She’s always yammering on,” Ares says, “trying to tell me about some dumb love letter, some random kiss or other, and how long it lasted, and, by Medusa’s hair, what they were wearing at the time.”
“Goddess?” says Hephaestus.
“Mmm?”
“Leave nothing out,” says the god of fire. “Make your tale a long one.” (c) Ah...
Rating: really liked it
An unbelievably charming book. The sections with the Greek gods are pitched for a YA audience, but the rest of the book straddles YA and Adult beautifully, telling a story that’s warm and tense and lovingly crafted. At times not even my cold, cold heart could keep me from sighing. Highly recommended.
Rating: really liked it
5 starsThe
Lovely War is truly nothing short of perfect.
I feel a little dim being that I am at something like a loss for words but that is how finishing this book made me feel. I've not read a book in a long time that felt like the most perfect picture of hope and longing and darkness and light.
The
Lovely War is a brilliant depiction of historical fiction with a pinch of greek mythology. Aphrodite has been caught in an affair and is demanded an explanation by her husband, Hephaestus. Aphrodite presents her case court room style. She then tells the story of Hazel and James, two people who found each other just moments before being ripped apart, and their tale as they struggled to fight their own battles during WWI. Hazel meets Collette and they quickly become best friends, and Hazel watches Collette fall in love with a black soldier, Aubrey, and Aphrodite tells her husband of all their struggles as she pleads her case.
I didn't know what to expect going into this. I have a friend or two who has read it and adored it, but I feel like this book truly surprised me. Hazel and James' story starts rather quickly, where as Colette and Aubrey's picks up around the halfway point. The interwoven stories of friendship and love and heartbreak and death and illness are what makes this book perfection.
I could not put the book down as I was reading the last 35% of it. It was so fast paced, filled with so much longing and immersive descriptions of the characters surroundings as well as their feelings. I found myself rooting so hard for the two couples to make it through the wartime and end up triumphantly together.
As you read, you only dive deeper into each character, becoming more and more in tune with them. As they face hardships, you grow with them. As they fall in love, you fall in love with them.
If there was only one thing I could say to review this book, it would be: "READ THIS BOOK"
And if my review falls flat, go read all the other raving reviews. You know what, skip the reviews and just
read the book . It will not disappoint.
***also, PLEASE someone hire the director & team who did the Netflix adaptation of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and MAKE THIS INTO A MOVIE. Can you imagine that brilliance!? It MUST happen."
